Scan barcode
ionsquareatkreuzberg's review against another edition
5.0
Quite possibly my favorite short story collection by a single author of all time. Almost all of these stories are incredible and mind-bending. If I had to pick the top three, I would recommend 'Best New Horror,' a story with an intriguing twist revolving around the editor of a horror fiction anthology, 'Pop Art,' quite possibly the most original short story I've read in years (the main character is a boy who is literally made of blown-up plastic, susceptible to be killed with every accidental pin prick), and 'Last Breath,' another incredibly original and interesting story about a man who collects people's literal last breaths, supposedly including that of Edgar Allan Poe. Almost all of these stories are incredible and deeply engrossing, and this collection is highly, highly recommended.
nancyadelman's review against another edition
3.0
A collection of short stories by the (relatively) new author, Joe Hill. Some are flat-out scary, and others are bittersweet. At least one was just downright funny. Make sure to read the "acknowledgements" section of the book, as there is a hidden story there, as well.
will_cherico's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fantastic read and my first encounter with Joe Hill. While some of the stories didn't quite stick the landing in terms of content or length, Hill's actual style is almost superior to his father's, and it's wholly unsurprising to me that he is "Joe Hill" and not "Stephen King's son Joe Hill." Hill writes with such a fondness for childhood without the annoying over-sweetness a lot of nostalgia pieces often suffer from. He conjures up memories of the good, the bad, and everything in between, and despite the fact that the majority of these stories are celebrations of the early second half of the twentieth century (see the collection's original title, 20th Century Ghosts), they still feel relatable to someone who grew up in the 2000's and 2010's. More than a few stories in here had me smacking my forehead and going "How come I didn't think of that first?!" namely The Black Phone and Last Breath, and I hope that Hill returns to Dead-Wood someday because that could be a really fantastic full-length novel instead of a two page story.
When Hill wanted to scare, he terrified me. When he wanted to instill nostalgia, memories I forgot I had were conjured up and allowed me to reflect on a time that, now that I'm in college, feels simultaneously thirty years and thirty hours ago. When he wanted me to tear up, he wrote Bobby Conroy Comes Back From the Dead. This is a fantastic collection. Do yourself a favor and read it, and savor each story.
When Hill wanted to scare, he terrified me. When he wanted to instill nostalgia, memories I forgot I had were conjured up and allowed me to reflect on a time that, now that I'm in college, feels simultaneously thirty years and thirty hours ago. When he wanted me to tear up, he wrote Bobby Conroy Comes Back From the Dead. This is a fantastic collection. Do yourself a favor and read it, and savor each story.
zwrobertson's review against another edition
4.0
20th Century Ghost, Pop Art, The Black Phone, and In The Rundown were definite standouts for me, but overall this is a fantastic and varied collection.
moonlit_shelves's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
jswan11's review against another edition
Just got stuck in one of the stories and it no longer appealed to me.
shazzeth's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
sapphirestars's review against another edition
3.0
3.5. Really awesome to see how he has grown from this to Full Throttle. Pop Art (inflatable people) and You Will Hear the Locust Sing and 20th Century Ghost some of the strongest stories. Fun read!
ginamas02's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0